Impression taking means



Jap..4, 1949. E. e. COFFEY IMPRESSION TAKING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 18, 1946 [urn/[0r El K Er. GEIFFEY and @656:- WW m Jan. 4, 1949. COFFEY 2 453J45 IMPRESSION TAKING MEANS Original Filed Feb. 18, -14s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor EH? Er. EIEIFFEY Patented Jan. 4, 1 949 112.458.1 "nviranssron TAKINGuMEANS Earl G. Coflfey, Sioux Gityjlowa Original appIicationiFebruaryvIS, 1-946; Serial No.

"648,220. Divided and thisapplioation February 49,200

C121." 1946, 'Serial' No.6

This invention relates to a means for taking impressions of the" gums iorproducing a lower artificial denture according to the methodfiisclosed-irrmy co-pend-ing application upon Dental technique, Serial -No. 648,220 ,filedFebruary 18,

1946, of which this application constitutes a di Generally stated, the presentimneans or equipment embodiesan impression ltrayihaving a recess to receive impression material and provided. with means to facilitate introduction of the impression material into i the recess after the tray --is placed infthe patients mouthgiand mechanical means for securing the tray in the patients mouth and against the gums with a limited amount of pressure so as to not cause the tray to distort the gums.

Claims. (01. 32-17) The exact nature of the present invention, as

well as specific objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of impression taking means constructed in accordance with the present invention, which means is illustrated as it appears in use.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamp employed to hold the tray in place.

Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the chin pad employed with the clamp of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the pad shown in Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present equipment or means includes a spring clamp 13, an impression tray C adapted to be held in proper position within the mouth and against the gums by the clamp 13, and a gun D for forcing the impression material into the tray C to fill the space between the tray and the gums.

The clamp B consists of a U-shaped lower jaw l0 having legs H projecting upwardly from the ends thereof and extending through finger plates l2 and I3, separation of which is limited by stop lugs l4 provided on said legs beneath the plate 12. Plate I3 is attached to legs II at [5. A pair of rods 16 extend through the finger plates 12 and I3, and they are attached to plate l2 at I1 and are provided with stop lugs which also act to limit separation of the plates l2 and IS. The rods I6 form extensions on the ends of a U-shaped upper jaw H! which is opposed to the jaw l0, and helical compression springs and 2| surround the legs ll and rods 16 between the finger plates l2 and I3 to yieldingly separate said plates and therebyxnormally position the jaws I 0 and l9'attheir limit of movement toward'each other. asjgovernedby the stop lugs. By pressing the plates l 2 and l 3 toward each-'otheragainst the "action of the *springsythedaws land I!) may be separated so'as to facilitate engagement of the jaw l0 underthe chin-andthe'ijaw 19 over the tray C. By flexing the-jaws toward or away from each other, the clamplmay be:adj.usted to'press the tray against the gums-with al'proper lpredeterminedpressure sooas 1205117101 distort the gums. To insure comfort to the patient, iajpad P is :provided for .positioningwon the .jawl-[l land for engagement with the patients chin. This pad may consist of a suitable plate provided with a yieldable covering and having spaced depending flanges 22 adapted to snugly receive between them the intermediate cross member of the jaw Ill so that the pad is held in place.

The gun D is of the syringe type and is employed for forcing impression material into the tray C. This gun includes a cylinder or barrel 23 provided with removable caps 24 and 25 on the opposite ends thereof, the front cap 24 having a tapered flattened outlet nozzle 26. Slidable in the cylinder orbarrel 23 is the usual piston indicated by dotted lines at 27, said piston being carried by a rod 28 that slidably projects through a central aperture of the rear cap 25 and is equipped upon its rear end with a handle 29. The cap 25 carries a pair of finger rings 30.

The impression tray C is of generally conventional form provided with a recess 3| for reception of the impression material. At the front, however, the tray is provided with an inlet nipple 32 that communicates with the recess 3| and is adapted for snug reception of the nozzle 26 of the gun. At its rear ends, the tray is provided with openings 33 in which the impression material will appear when the recess 3| has been properly filled with impression material.

In practice, the cap 24 is removed and the piston 21 is retracted so as to permit filling of the barrel 23 with the impression material in a state of thin consistency. The cap 24 is then applied to the cylinder 23, and nozzle 28 is inserted in the nipple 32, whereupon the piston 21 is forced forwardly so as to discharge the impression material into the recess 3| of the tray C. When the impression material appears at the apertures 33, the operator discontinues feeding of the impression material to the tray, so that there willbe no extra impression material supplied which will run into the 'patients mouth and cause discomfort or gagging. After insures production of a denture which will not unduly pressagainst the gums or distort them and which will accordingly remain tight in the mouth. As soon as the impression material has set, the clamp B and the tray C are removed. The tray C is preferably provided at the top with a transverse groove at 34 in which the intermediate or cross member of jaw l9 may seat for maintaining proper relationship between the jaw l9 and the tray when the equipment is in use.

It will be seen that the invention permits the production of impression castings which are uniformly accurate and which require a minimum amount of manual efiort, skill and care in the production thereof. Minor changes may be made in details of construction, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In an impression taking device, means for securing an impression tray in the mouth and yi'eldingly pressing said tray against the gums, said means including a spring clamp comprising upper and lower jaws, each having legs extended therefrom substantially at a right angle thereto, the legs of each jaw extending toward and being in overlapped relation to those of the other jaw, a finger-piece attached to the legs of each jaw and having the legs of the other jaw slidable therethrough, means to limit separation of the finger-pieces and movement of the jaws toward each other, and springs'interpo'sed between said finger-pieces and urging the finger-pieces apart and the jaws toward each other.

2. In an impression taking device, means for securing an impression tray in the mouth and yieldingly pressing said tray against the gums, said means including a spring clamp comprising upper and lower jaw members slidably overlapped and connected together at corresponding ends, a finger-piece attached to each of said corresponding ends and slidably receivin the other end, means to limit separation of the finger-pieces and movement of the jaws toward each other, and springs interposed between said finger-pieces and urging the latter apart and thejaws toward each other.

- EARL G. COFFEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Sahr Apr. 6, 1943 

